Two particles, each of mass 7.0 kg, are a distance 3.0 m apart. To bring a third particle, with mass 21 kg, from far away to a resting point midway between the two particles, an external agent must do work equal to

the external agent must do work equal to -1.3 × 10⁻⁸ J

Explanation:

Given that;

Mass M1 = 7.0 kg

r = 3.0/2 m = 1.5 m

Mass M2 = 21 kg

we know that G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N.m²/kg²

work done by an external agent W = -2GM2M1 / r

so we substitute

W = (-2 × 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ × 21 × 7) / 1.5

W = -1.96098 × 10⁻⁸ / 1.5

W = -1.3 × 10⁻⁸ J

Therefore the external agent must do work equal to -1.3 × 10⁻⁸ J